Electric can opener



Sept. 26, 1950 E. E. BROWN ELECTRIC CAN OPENER INVENTOR. EDWARD EVERETT BROWN BY 6 Y ATT RNEY 2 5 1 ifiEEfl w m F x 6 l0 7 M Z a mm A .w B m F m a P 1950 E. E. BROWN 2,523,810

ELECTRIC CAN OPENER Filed Sept. 28, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4.

INVEN TOR.

EDWARD EVERETT BROWN BY I X o l I AT ORNEY Patented Sept. 26, 1950 2,523,810 annc'rmo CAN OPENER Edward Everett Brown, New York, N. Y.

' Application September 28, 1948, Serial No. 51,549 1 (01; 30 -4) 6 Claims.

. The invention herein disclosed is a power operated can opener.

Particular objects of the invention are to provide a practical and desirable machine for opening cans of various sizes, which will be simple and easy to use and control and which will provide the power to eifectively out and remove the can tops. i

Special objects of the invention are to provide such a machine in a simple, rugged and inexpensive structure.

Other important objects of the invention are to provide a machine which will bequickly adjustable and adaptable to the various sizes and shapes of cans and which can be readily controlled as. need be to accomplish the proper holding of the can and then the severance and removal of the can top. 7

Other desirable objects and the novel features through which all purposes of the invention are attained are set forth or will appear in the course'of the following specification.

The drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification illustrate a present practical embodiment of the invention. Structure, however, may be modified and changed as regards the immediate illustration, all within the true intent and broad scope of the invention as hereinafter defined and claimed.

Fig. 1 in thedrawings is a side elevation of one of the machines with parts broken away and appearing in section;

Fig. 2 is a broken sectional detail of a modified form of self-adjusting, yielding connection between the can gripping and cutter lowering sections of the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a broken plan View of the gripper mechanism on a somewhat reduced scale;

Fig. 4 is a front view of the machine with portions of the head broken away and shown in section;

. Fig. 5 is a broken part sectional detail of a modified form of cutter.

The main views, Figs. 1 and 4, show'the machine as made up of a base? in the nature-of a table on which the can, indicated at B, is placed and then held stationary by companion gripping jaws 9, after which a motor driven cutter is lowered to drive a centering punch ill into the top of the can and then sweep the cutting point or blade it about the perimeter of the top.

The can gripping clamps 9 are shown as toothed, V-shaped slides operating in opposed guide slots l2 in the table and adapted to be drawn together or toward eachother by pivot links l3 at'the under side of the table connected at the center at M. with a pull link 55 operating horizontally in a guide groove it in the table and having gear teeth ll engaged by a' gear segment 1'8.

2 The latter is shown pivoted at l9 in an up standing post 20 at the back of the table and as having a rearwardly projecting arm 2| pivotally connected by a pull link 22 with an operating'lever 23. r

The lever 23 is shown pivoted at 24 on the forwardly extended, overstanding head portion 25 of the post and as carrying a gear segment 25 at its forward end in mesh with a rack 21 operating vertically down through a guide passage 28 in the head portion of the post or stand.

A forwardly projecting hand lever 29 is shown fixed on the shaft 24 which carries the operating lever 23 for effecting lifting and lowering movements of said lever and opening and closing movements of the can gripping mechanism.

The vertically operating rack 27 is shown as carrying an electric motor 30, which may be of the type having incorporated therein reduction gearing for operating the shaft 3! at reduced speed.

This shaft carries at the center of it the penetrating point In and has fixed to it the radially extending sweep arm 32 which carries the cutter blade H.

The punch 10 is shown as of conical formation with a shoulder 33 at the back of the can penetrating tip to act as a support for holding the can top against dropping back in the can, and an annular washer 34 is shown in back of this supporting shoulder to limit the extent of penetration and provide a firm center grip on the top of the can.

The cutter blade H is shown as having a quickly adjustable butsecure mounting on the arm 32 by being carried by a block .15 toothed on its upper face to match theteeth 35 on the carrier arm, the parts being yieldingly held in the engaged relation by the pin 31 carrying the block and extending up through the slot 35in the arm; a supporting spring 39 being interposed between the head ,49. at the upper end of the pin and the washer 4i overriding the slotted portion of the arm.

This blade may be quickly adjusted to a desired radial setting by simply pushing down on cutter blade I! is carried by a block 42 slidingly engaged on the motor rotated arm 43 and guided radially of the arm by having a roller 46 on the block riding over the rim of the can.

A stop screw 45 on the outer end of the arm limits outward travel of the cutter block but on removal permits the slide to be taken OK the arm for sharpening of the cutter blade, substitution or repair of parts.

The sliding cutter block 42 is also shown in Fig. 5 as having a thumb screw 46 by which it may be secured in any desired position on the rotating arm.

In the machine illustrated the parts are so related and connected that the gripper jaws 9 will take hold and secure the can before the cutter starts to work on the can top. This timing is accomplished by pivotally connecting the upper end of the pull rod 22 with the lever 23 at 41 and by sliding the lower portion of this rod through a block d8 pivoted to the arm 2| of gear segment IS, with a spring 49 interposed between this pivot block and the head 50 at the lower end of the rod.

The parts are set so that the first portion of the downward stroke of the hand lever 29 will be efiective to close the jaws on the can before the motor has been lowered far enough for the penetrating point to reach the can top. After this first stage of movement, in which the can is gripped on the table, the spring 49 yields to permit further downward movement of the motorsuflicient to force the point through the center of the can top and to carry the traveling cutter into engagement with the top.

The motor may be started before, during or after such lowering movement. tration, a motor controlling push-button switch is mounted in the end of the hand lever, as indicated at so that the operator may exercise skill and judgment on this as gained by experience in using the machine.

A modified form of yielding or compensating connection between the upper and lower pair of levers 23 and 2| is indicated in Fig. 2, consisting of telescopically engaged rod and sleeve members 52, 53, pivotally connected at their opposite ends with levers 23 and 2|, respectively, and yieldingly drawn together by a surrounding spring 54 connected at its opposite ends at 55, 56, with the rod and sleeve, respectively.

A cross pin 51 on the rod operating in a slot 58 in the tube 53 may limit the amount of extension or contraction of the telescopic connection described, providing a positive drive connection at the end of a certain amount of extension or contraction or both, as may be desired.

What is claimed is:

1. A power operated can opener comprising a base, a horizontally operating rack on said base and a rack mounted for vertical movement over said base, gear segments for actuating said racks, can grips connected with said horizontally operating rack, a motor operated can cutter carried by said vertically operating rack and compensating connections between said racks timed to effect closure of said grips on a can prior to engagement of the cutter with a can so gripped.

2. A power operated can opener comprising a base, a horizontally operating rack on said base and a rack mounted for vertical movement over said base, gear segments for actuating said racks, can grips connected with said horizontally operating rack, a motor operated can cutter carried by said vertically operating rack and compensating connections between said racks timed to In the illuseffect closure of said grips on a can prior to engagement of the cutter with a can so gripped, a hand lever for effecting operation of said gear segments and a motor controlling switch carried by said hand lever.

3. A power operated can opener comprising a base, a horizontally operating rack on said base and a rack mounted for vertical movement over said base, gear segments for actuating said racks, can grips connected with said horizontally operating rack, a motor operated can cutter carried by said vertically operating rack and compensating connections between said racks timed to effect closure of said grips on a can prior to engagement of the cutter with a can so gripped, including a longitudinally extensible, yielding connection between the two gear segments.

4. A power operated can opener comprising a table, can grips operable over said table, a horizontally operating rack for closing said can grips, a rack mounted for vertical movement over vthetable, a motor carried by said vertically operating rack, a center can puncturing punch carried by said motor and a rotating cutter operable by said motor, gear segments for actuating said horizontally and vertically operating racks and means connecting said gear segments to eifect relatively timed closing of said can grips and lowering of said motor toward the table.

5. A power operated can opener comprising a table, can grips operable over said table, a horizontally operating rack for closing said can grips, a, rack mounted for vertical movement over the table, a motor carried by said vertically operating rack, a center can puncturing punch carried by said motor and a rotating cutter operable by said motor, gear segments for actuating said horizontally and vertically operating racks and means connecting said gear segments to effect relatively timed closing of said can grips and lowering of said motor toward the table, said center puncturing punch having a shoulder for supporting a severed can top and a washer in back of said shoulder for limiting the extent of penetration of said punch.

6. A power operated can opener comprising a table, can grips operable over said table, a horizontally operating rack for closing said can grips, a rack mounted for vertical movement over the table, a motor carried by said vertically operating rack, a center can puncturing punch carried by said motor and a rotating cutter operable by said motor, gear segments for actuating said horizontally and vertically operating racks and means connecting said gear segments to effect relatively timed closing of said can grips and lowering of said motor toward the table, said rotating cutter including an arm rotated by the motor and a cutter variously adjustable along said arm.

EDWARD EVERETT BROWN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 667,880 Hinckley et al. Feb. 12, 1901 1,773,048 Linke Aug. 12, 1930 1,966,962 Horhorouny July 17, 1934 

